United States · Bill · S
S. 819 (101st)
Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1989
Introduced
18 April 1989
Last action
20 September 1990 · Committee
Status
See S.2393.
Sponsors
Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO], Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI], Sen. Adams, Brock [D-WA], Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Subjects
Transport
Source updated
3 June 2026
Summary
Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1989 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule regarding Federal motor carrier safety regulations to: (1) establish a public information system that periodically updates the safety ratings of motor carriers which have received unsatisfactory safety ratings; (2) provide a rating reassessment within 12 months after receipt of a motor carrier's written request to have an unsatisfactory rating reassessed; and (3) prohibit the operation of certain commercial motor vehicles by motor carriers who have received unsatisfactory safety ratings. Requires the Secretary to submit operational guidelines to the Congress with specific criteria for determining civil penalties for motor carrier safety violations that pose imminent safety hazards. Requires annual reports to the Congress on enforcement actions. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose mandatory minimum criminal penalties for the unlawful distribution or possession of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a truck stop. Precludes the suspension of criminal sentences and denies probation for repeat offenders. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to establish specified sentencing guidelines for violations of this Act. Amends the Truck and Bus Safety and Regulatory Reform Act of 1988 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking proceeding regarding improved braking performance standards for commercial motor vehicles. Classifies Department of Transportation safety inspectors at GS-12 of the General Schedule. Sets a deadline within which the Secretary must establish procedures ensuring the timely correction of commercial motor carrier safety violations found in a nationwide random reinspection system. Directs the Secretary to establish operational procedures requiring highway safety personnel to initiate enforcement actions whenever certain motor carrier safety violations can be documented. Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking proceeding for enhanced truck visibility.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
18 April 1989
Committee
Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
18 April 1989
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
18 April 1989
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
19 April 1989
Committee
Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
20 June 1989
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
27 July 1989
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 178.
Source: Calendars
27 July 1989
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-91.
Source: Committee
27 July 1989
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-91.
Source: Committee
3 August 1989
Passed
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
3 August 1989
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
6 September 1989
Introduced
Referred jointly to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
6 September 1989
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
6 September 1989
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
14 September 1989
Committee
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from DOT.
Source: Committee
18 September 1989
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
Source: Committee
6 October 1989
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Source: Committee
20 September 1990
Committee
See S.2393.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Engrossed in Senate · — · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · — · Download file
- Referred in House · — · Download file
- Reported to Senate · — · Download file
Documents
7 official files
Reported to Senate (text)
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
Referred in House (text)
Referred in House · EN
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 3 August 1989
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 27 July 1989
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 18 April 1989
Leesvertaling
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Sponsors
- Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Adams, Brock [D-WA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · D · Cosponsor
- · hsif00 · Standing
- · hspw00 · Standing
- · sscm00 · Standing
Related records
- related to ← Safe Food Transportation Act of 1990
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/senate-bill/819
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/s/819
- us · 101-s-819 · source updated 3 June 2026